The Careful Account
he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. Luke 1:9 · Berean Standard Bible
He was chosen by drawing lots to go into the Lord's temple and burn incense, which was a rare and special honor.
Many priests went their whole lives without getting this opportunity. For an old priest near the end of his career, this was likely a once-in-a-lifetime moment.
Luke explains how Zechariah received this special duty.
After decades of faithful service, Zechariah finally gets the highest honor a priest could receive. And God has something even greater waiting for him inside.
By the custom of kleros (lot/casting of lots), Zechariah is chosen to enter the naos (temple sanctuary) and offer thymiama (incense), a once-in-a-lifetime honor.
The incense offering occurred twice daily on the golden altar in the Holy Place. Being chosen by lot was viewed as divinely directed. Many priests never received this honor in their lifetime.
The narrator describes how Zechariah was selected for the incense offering.
The lot falls to Zechariah for the most sacred priestly duty. What seems like chance is divine orchestration, positioning him for an encounter that will change history.
7But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years.
8One day while Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,
9he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
10And at the hour of the incense offering, the whole congregation was praying outside.
11Just then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
Read all of Luke 1 — A physician writes the most detailed account of Jesus' life. Luke notices the people others overlook — the poor, the outcast, the women, the forgotten.
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